Our Founder
Built by someone who lived it.
Amputees Are Awesome wasn't born in a boardroom. It was born from the experience of limb loss — and the conviction that no one should have to navigate that journey alone.
Meet the Founder
James Gouch
Executive Director & Founder
James Gouch is a left above-the-knee amputee, veteran advocate, and the driving force behind Amputees Are Awesome. After experiencing limb loss firsthand, James understood the isolation, the financial barriers, and the physical and emotional weight that comes with navigating life as an amputee — often without adequate support or community.
Rather than accept that reality, James built something better. What began as a personal mission to help others in similar situations grew into a nationally recognized nonprofit — funding prosthetics, building community programs, and breaking ground on "The Haven," a dedicated retreat center in Tennessee for amputees and their families.
James brings the same determination to the gym, to advocacy, and to every person he serves. His story is proof that limb loss is not the end of the road — it's the beginning of a different, and often more powerful, one.
I didn't start this because I had all the answers. I started it because I knew what it felt like to need help — and I wanted to make sure others didn't have to search as hard as I did.
— James Gouch, Executive Director & Founder
What Drives Us
A mission rooted in lived experience.
Every decision we make — from the programs we fund to the way we design "The Haven" — is shaped by the real experiences of people living with limb loss. We are not observers. We are participants. And that makes all the difference.
Open to All
Our programs and support are available to anyone living with limb loss or limb difference — veterans, civilians, young and old. No one is turned away.
Veterans First
We have a deep and abiding commitment to the veteran community. Those who served deserve more than gratitude — they deserve real, lasting support.
Practical Impact
We focus on outcomes that change lives: prosthetics funded, a retreat built, connections made. Real support for real people.
Community at the Core
Healing happens in community. Everything we build — programs, events, "The Haven" — centers the relationships between people who truly understand each other's journey.
Be part of the story.
Whether you donate, volunteer, or simply share our mission — you are part of what we're building. Join a community that believes every person living with limb loss deserves a full, connected, supported life.